Sunday, December 04, 2022

Duplessis blanks Wildcats, 3-0 UPDATED


Behind flawless goaltending by junior Vinnie Duplessis and a pair of power-play goals, #9/7 Terriers completed a sweep of their home-and-home series against New Hampshire with a 3-0 shutout at Agganis Arena before a crowd of 3,500. 

With seven wins in the last eight games, BU improves to 10-4-0 overall and 7-3-0 in Hockey East.

BU received man-advantage goals from seniors Dom Fensore and Jay O'Brien and an empty-net tally by freshman Quinn Hutson. Fensore has scored goals in four consecutive games and has five scores over that period. O'Brien, whose been snake-bitten when it comes to finishing this season, picked up his second goal of the season and has a 2-9-11 scoring line. Hutson's goal was his fifth of the year.

“I think it’s a weekend that we needed to get six points, and we accomplished that,” BU Head Coach Jay Pandolfo said. “I give our guys a lot of credit. We played really well tonight.”

Following a scoreless first period in which BU outshot the visitors, 15-5, the Terriers broke the ice late in the second period. After Wilmer Skoog's close-in attempt was defended, O'Brien retrieved the puck and set up Fensore for a one-timer from 40 feet out that beat David Fessenden to the glove side.

BU defended the one-goal in the third period, limiting the Wildcats to just five shots, and added an insurance tally at 16:37 again on a power play. Returning the favor from the first goal, Fensore set up O'Brien above the left circle. He cut to the high slot, deked a defender and wired a shot glove side, top shelf. Matt Brown had a secondary assist.

Fifty-nine seconds later with Fessenden pulled for an extra attacker, Quinn Hutson found the empty net to close out the scoring. Ethan Phillips and Case McCarthy assisted.

With the pair of wins, Duplessis' career record now is 14-5 and he improved this season's GAA to 2.44 and his save percentage to .909. The shutout was his fourth as a Terrier with the most recent one being the 1-0 win against Northeastern in the Beanpot Championship game last February.

BU connected on four of six power play opportunities and was a perfect four-for-four on penalty kills.

“Tonight we took a couple that I’m not sure were definitely penalties, but that’s to the ref’s discretion,” Pandolfo said. “We did a good job. Our penalty kill was excellent tonight, so that was important.” 

Commenting on his captain's four-game goal-scoring streak, Pandolfo pointed out that “Dom’s always great on offense. It’s something he works on. Right now he’s got some confidence, and the puck’s going in.” 

After losing the face off battle in Friday's win, BU bounced back to dominate draws, 34-20. 

Following the weekend's Division 1 games, the Terriers sit a #7 in the PairWise Rankings and #6 in the KRACH-based CHN Power Rankings.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video Highlights and post-game interviews:Pandolfo, O'Brien, Duplessis

● Boston Hockey Blog recap 

● WTBU Sports recap

During the first intermission, the eight new inductees to the BU Athletic Hall of Fame were honored. The group included Mark Fidler, the leading scorer on the Terriers' 1978 national champions, and Marie-Philip Poulin, who led BU to three Hockey East championships and two NCAA championship game appearances and won three Olympic gold medals for Canada. 

● Hall of Fame Bios: Fidler, Poulin

 

Looking ahead

2023 or 2024 recruit Macklin Celebrini scored twice and assisted on three other tallies as Chicago rallied to beat Muskegon, 7-4. 

Following the game, Flohockey's Chris Peters tweeted "After a career-high five points last night for the Chicago Steel, top 2024 NHL Draft prospect and BU commit Macklin Celebrin is leading the USHL in points per game at 1.53 (23 in 15 GP). He's been held off the scoresheet in just two games"


2023 recruit Nick Roukounakis's third goal was the game-winner as Tri-City edged Omaha, 3-2 .

the2023 reruit Jack Gorton scored his seventh goal as BCHL Victoria defeated Salmon Arm, 3-0. The 6'3" right-shot forward, who had  a three-point night Friday, now has 21 points in 24 games and is tied for the Grizzlies' scoring lead.

2024 recruit Jack Pridham scored shorthanded to help St. Andrews College beat Shattuck Prep, 6-3. The 6'2" right wing from Stouffville, Ont., has a 13-16-29 scoring line in 21 games this season.

Looking back

Trevor Zegras scored his ninth goal, added an assist and then scored a shootout goal, but the Ducks dropped a 5-4 decision to Minnesota. 

 

Charlie McAvoy assisted on the Bruins first two goal and Charlie Coyle assisted on another in a 5-1 win against Colorado.

Jack Eichel scored his team-leading 13th goal in the Golden Knights' 4-1 win against Detroit. He has a 13-16-29 scoring line.

 

 

 

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